Enough already with these persistent  but mistaken  references to three co-equal branches of government

Monday

Aug 5, 2013 at 5:10 PM

It’s been a while since I’ve addressed this issue, but I’ve recently heard and read several references to the federal government’s “three co-equal branches,” which prompts me to reiterate a point I’ve made here on several previous occasions:

Yes, the notion that the Constitution created three co-equal branches of government is an article of faith among most Americans. It’s popularly viewed as the provision that gives us our system of checks and balances. But it’s not true. In reality, there’s no mention of “co-equal branches” or “checks and balances” in the Constitution.

Most of the politicians who have played the “co-equal” card ...

Read more

Pat Cunningham

It’s been a while since I’ve addressed this issue, but I’ve recently heard and read several references to the federal government’s “three co-equal branches,” which prompts me to reiterate a point I’ve made here on several previous occasions:

Yes, the notion that the Constitution created three co-equal branches of government is an article of faith among most Americans. It’s popularly viewed as the provision that gives us our system of checks and balances. But it’s not true. In reality, there’s no mention of “co-equal branches” or “checks and balances” in the Constitution.